793.94/488: Telegram
The Minister in China (Reinsch) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 a. m.]
Referring to my cable of November 27, 10 p. m.34 Situation still uncertain, but there are some indications that Great Britain is not receiving strong support from Russia in the endeavor to hold Japan to strictly joint action in Far Eastern affairs, since Russia appears to feel only a moderate interest in China proper as long as her position in the north is safe. This isolation of British influence, which was accentuated by the premature publication of the Entente plan, is believed to have encouraged Japan to make counterproposals involving complete freedom of action in China and the consequent tacit recognition of her practical suzerainty over China, which the Japanese press is already loudly asserting. The preoccupation of Great Britain in Europe, the fact that Japan could easily become dangerous to her in Asia, the indifference of Russia, the endeavors of Germany further to weaken British influence in China and to keep China from joining the Allies, leave growing material power of Japan the one positive factor in the situation, foreshadowing irretrievable loss of European influence in China should the war continue. American interests [Page 430] would suffer together with European and the question arises whether it is, under the circumstances possible to give sufficient backing to the European Entente Powers enabling them to preserve the status of International Rights in China and of Chinese sovereignty itself intact until the end of the war.
- Not printed.↩